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Title(s) : Performance study of a solar powered liquid desiccant

regenerator

Author(s): Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed

Antalya, 18.10.2012

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We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been accepted for presentation on the 2nd
International Scientific Conference on Engineering “Manufacturing and Advanced Technologies” MAT
2012

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Volkan KOVAN

On behalf of the International Organizing Committee
 2nd International Scientific Conference on Engineering
“Manufacturing and Advanced Technologies”
MAT 2012, Antalya Turkey, 22-24 November 2012

PERFORMANCE STUDY OF A SOLAR POWERED LIQUID

DESICCANT REGENERATOR

Ahmed. M. Ahmed
University of Nyala
Faculty of Engineering Science - Mechanical Engineering Department
P.O. Box 155, Nyala
Sudan

ABSTRACT
Air conditioning is usually carried out using vapour compression systems. However, increased global
warming and the environmental impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other similar refrigerants
on the ozone layer, has stimulated interest in the development of ``environmentally-friendly'' air
conditioning systems such as desiccant cooling systems. On the other hand, in hot and humid
climates, the humidity puts extra load on the electric vapor-compression air conditioning (VAC)
systems. Desiccants systems can reduce the moisture content of humid air and thus reduce the latent
load imposed on the VAC systems. The regenerator forms the heart of these systems. In this paper the
performance of an internally heated regenerator using solar energy was investigated. The
performance index was evaluated using the regenerator effectiveness, and enthalpy effectiveness.
Experimental investigation was conducted using Triethylene Glycol as a liquid desiccant to illustrate
the effect of air and liquid parameters on the output variables. The regeneration process is shown to
be highly dependent on the air inlet conditions, namely, temperature, humidity and flow rate. Also, the
effect of the liquid temperature, concentration and flow rate was discussed.
Keywords: liquid desiccant, regenerator effectiveness, enthalpy effectiveness.

1. INTRODUCTION
The possibility of providing cooling and air conditioning by means of energy from the sun has
attracted attention since the early development of solar technology. Liquid desiccants have been used
in various solar energy applications, such as cooling of buildings, drying, food processing, etc. In all
these applications an important part of the system is the regenerator, in which the weak absorbent
solution is concentrated. The heat required for the regeneration process can be supplied either by a
solar air heater or a solar water heater. The characteristic of these systems is that the electrical energy
consumption can be reduced [1, 2]. Thus there is potential for cost savings by using desiccant cooling,
especially in applications where the latent cooling load comprises a large portion of the total cooling
load. For example Burns et al [3] found that utilizing desiccant cooling in a supermarket reduced the
cost of air conditioning by 60% as compared to conventional vapor compression system. Therefore,
research leading to reliable, energy efficient, and cost competitive desiccant system is warranted.
Different regenerator designs have been studied by researchers. In packed regenerator, heat and mass
transfer happen only between the air and desiccant; it is possible that the liquid desiccant regeneration
would decay quickly. Internally heated regeneration could be an alternative to solve this problem [4].
Ren et al. [5] developed an analytical model for internally cooled or heated liquid desiccant air contact
unit and found the model conforming to the numerical model. Howell [6] modeled a regeneration
chamber containing a finned heating coil, where hot water flowing through the coil to provide the heat
of regeneration. It was found that by increasing the air to desiccant flow rate and the hot water flow
rate gave a stronger desiccant leaving the chamber. In the present study, an experimental chamber was

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constructed for investigating counter-flow regenerator using Triethylence Glycol as the desiccant. The
effects of air and desiccant inlet parameters on the regenerator performance are discussed.

2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND PROCEDURE

An experimental rig was developed to investigate factors affecting the performance of this
regenerator. As shown in figure1 the main components of the regenerator composed of packed tower,
evacuated tubes solar boiler, weak desiccant storage tank, and circulating pumps.

Figure 1. Site photo and apparatus layout

A circulating pump was used to circulate the weak desiccant over the finned tube heat exchanger. A
plastic distributor was fixed at the top of the tower to distribute the weak desiccant uniformly over the
packing. An axial extract fan was fixed on the top of the regenerator to extract the outdoor air from
the bottom of the regenerator in counter manner to the desiccant flow. A 200 litter evacuated tube
solar boiler with circulating pump were used to circulate the hot water through the finned tube heat
exchanger. Before each experiment, 80 litter of Triethylence Glycol was stored in a tank. The
measurements were taken after allowing enough time for steady state readings. The specifications of
different measuring devices are shown in Table1. The design variables for the study are the desiccant
flow rate, the air flow rate, the desiccant concentration and the outdoor air humidity ratio.
Table 1. Measuring Devices Specifications

Device Type Accuracy Operating range Fluid

Thermometers Digital RTD 1 0C 0-100 0C Water, Desiccant
Hygrometer Digital RTD 1% -40-180 0C , 0- 100 % Air
Anemometer Vane 2% 0-15 m/s , 0- 80 0C Air
Refractometer Hand 0.001 1.445-1.52 Desiccant
2% 0-280 L/mn Desiccant
Flowmeter Rotameter 2% 0-130 L/min Water

3. PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS
The performance of the regenerator was evaluated by calculating the regenerator and enthalpy
effectiveness. The regenerator effectiveness is defined as the ratio of the actual change in moisture
content of the air stream to the maximum possible change in its moisture content under a given set of
operating conditions. Thus the regenerator effectiveness can be expressed as:

Where Yin and Yout are the absolute humidities of the air at the inlet and outlet conditions, respectively,
and Yequ is the absolute humidity of the air at equilibrium with the desiccant solution at the desiccant
inlet concentration and temperature. Yequ is given by the perfect gas relation as follows:
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Where Patm is the atmospheric pressure and Psol is the vapor pressure of the liquid desiccant solution
which is available as experimental data or predicted equations in the literature [7].
The enthalpy effectiveness is defined as the ratio of actual change in enthalpy of the air across the
regenerator to the maximum possible change in enthalpy of air.

The equilibrium enthalpy, hequ , is the air enthalpy in equilibrium with the desiccant at the inlet
temperature and concentration.

4. RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness as a function of inlet air flow rate are shown in Fig2 (a)
and Fig3.(a). Both of them decrease by increasing the inlet air flow rate. This is due to decrease of air
outlet humidity ratio Yequ, (equation (1)) which is a result of decreasing the air stayed time within the
regenerator while increasing air flow rate.
The effect of air inlet humidity ratio was shown in Fig2 (b) and Fig3(b). The regenerator and enthalpy
effectiveness are increasing with increasing air inlet humidity ratio. The reason is that increasing the
inlet air humidity ratio caused a decrease in the mass transfer potential within the regenerator, and
hence a decrease in moisture removal rate although air outlet humidity ratio increased. The increase of
both air inlet and outlet humidity ratio led to increase of regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness.
The regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness are increased with increasing desiccant flow rate, as
shown in Fig2.(c) and Fig3.(c). When the desiccant flow rate was increased, there would be a good
wetting area, and hence a good contact area between air and desiccant which will enhance the heat
and mass transfer. This would increase the regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness.
The regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness are decreased with increasing desiccant inlet concentration
as shown in Fig2.(d) and Fig3.(d). Increasing desiccant inlet concentration decreases the mass transfer
potential within the regenerator, and hence the regenerator and enthalpy effectiveness decreases.

(a) (b)

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 (c) (d)
Fig.2 The Regenerator Effectiveness versus inlet variables:
(a) Inlet air flow rate (kg/s) (b) Inlet air humidity ratio (g/kg dry air)
(c) Desiccant solution flow rate (kg/s) (d) Desiccant solution concentration (%)

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Fig.3. The Enthalpy Effectiveness versus inlet variables:
(a) Inlet air flow rate (kg/s) (b) Inlet air humidity ratio (g/kg dry air)
(c) Desiccant solution flow rate (kg/s) (d) Desiccant solution concentration (%)

5. CONCLUSION
The performance of solar powered and internally heated Triethylence Glycol liquid desiccant
regenerator was investigated experimentally in this study. The results showed that the regenerator and
enthalpy Effectiveness increased as inlet humidity ratio and inlet desiccant flow rate increased, and
they decreased as the inlet air flow rate and desiccant solution concentration increased. These results
are in good agreement with those published by others.

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REFERENCES

[1] Meckler, H., Desiccant- assisted air conditioning improve IAQ and comfort. heating, piping & air
conditioning, 66(10), 75-84, 1994.
[2] Yadav, Y.k., and Kaushik, S. c., Psychometric Technoeconomic assessment and Parametric Studies of Vapor-
Compression and Solid/Liquid Desiccant Hybrid Solar space Conditioning Systems. Heat Recovery Syst.
CHP, 11(6), pp. 563-572, 1991
[3] Burns, P. R., Mitchell, J. W., and Beckman, w. A., Hybrid desiccant cooling systems in supermarket
applications. ASHRAE Transactions, 91, Pt.1b, 457-468, 1985
[4] Yin YG, Zhang XS, Li YL, Guan ZS. Investigation of solar powered liquid desiccant evaporation cooling air
conditioning system with energy storage. J. of Southeast University, 35(1), 73-76, 2005
[5] Ren CQ, Tu M, Wang HH. An analytical model for heat and mass transfer processes in internally cooled or
heated liquid desiccant air contact units. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,50(17-18):3545-
3555, 2007.
[6] Howell, J.R. A survey of active solar cooling methods. Progress in Solar Engineering, 171–182, 1987
[7] Dow Chem. Co., Triethylene Glycol Product guide, Dow Chemical Company, Midland, USA. 2007.

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